Saturday, October 25 : Saint John-Mary Vianney

We see that our divine Savior compares us (…) to a fig tree that the father planted in his vineyard; He cuts him, he cultivates it with his grace in the hope that he will bring forth fruit; But, seeing that he does not bear any, although he does not bear bad fruit either, he tears it down and throws it into the fire (…). Tell me, is it not to show us that Jesus Christ will only give his paradise to those who deserved it by their good works? See Jesus Christ, who is our model: was he in any moment in his life not working to do good works, to convert souls to his Father, and to suffer? And we, all miserable that we are, we would like him to cost us nothing? (…) If you haven’t done anything, or if what you have done is lost for some human sight, start immediately, so that in death, you can still find something to present to Jesus Christ to give you eternal life. -But, you will say, maybe, I only did harm throughout my life; I’m just a bad tree that can no longer bear good fruit. – My brothers, it can still be, and I’m going to teach you. Change this earthly tree, sprinkle it with other water, smoke it with other fertilizers, and you will see that you will have good fruit, although you have born very bad so far. (…) Make yourself like the earth, which, before the flood, drew water from its breast to water itself (GN 2,6), without having to use the clouds of the sky, to give it fertility. Likewise, my brothers, draw this salutary water from your own heart which will change the situation. You watered it with the bourbly water of your passions; well ! Now sprinkle it with the tears of repentance, pain and love, and you will see that you will stop being a bad tree, to become one that will bear fruit for eternal life.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team